Vodacom Bulls flyhalf Manie Libbok will make his first start of the 2020 Vodacom Super Rugby season against the Highlanders on Saturday.
Bulls coach Pote Human has opted to bring Libbok into the starting lineup after primarily using the 22-year-old off the bench this year.
Libbok will form the halfback partnership with Embrose Papier, with Morne Steyn and Ivan van Zyl on the bench.
There are two debutants in the starting lineup, with 21-year-old Muller Uys and 28-year-old Ian Groenewald both making their first appearances for the Bulls at this level.
Uys, who captained the Blue Bulls U21 to the U21 Championship title last year, starts at No 8, forming the loose trio with Josh Strauss and Marco van Staden.
Former Western Province and Griquas lock Groenewald will form the second row with Ruan Nortje.
Trevor Nyakane will continue to lead the team as Burger Odendaal has not recovered fully from his ankle injury.
Bulls – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Nafi Tuitavake, 12 Johnny Kotze, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Trevor Nyakane (c), 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Subs: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Ryno Pieterse, 20 Ruan Steenkamp, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Divan Rossouw.
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
